California Avenue Grow A One-House Environmental Calamity

APD Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Officers from the Arcata Police Department served a search warrant at a residence in the 70 block of California Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 11.

Upon entering the residence, officers located a marijuana growing operation encompassing the majority of the ground floor of the residence. Officers seized nearly 450 growing marijuana plants, over 300 juvenile marijuana plants, approximately 20 pounds of processed marijuana, and two firearms.

Jenny Hahnnelea Susan Boehm

The growing operation that was being conducted inside the home consisted of 19 1,000 watt grow lights, and was utilizing nearly 20 times the electricity of a typical Arcata family home.

Kirk Blaise Matranga, 52, and Jenny Hahnnelea Susan Boehm, both of Arcata, were arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

• 11358 Health & Safety-Cultivation of Marijuana

• 11359 Health & Safety – Possession of Marijuana for Sale

• 182 Penal Code- Conspiracy

Matranga was additionally booked on a charge of 12022a(1) of the Penal Code, Possession of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.

City of Arcata building inspectors discovered numerous building code violations at the residence which necessitated the immediate disconnection of electrical service. City of Arcata Environmental Services also responded to inspect an area on the property where a large amount of contaminated soil from the growing operation had been dumped into a ravine that is part of the Jolly Giant Creek watershed.